Events

VWMS is hosting a gala afternoon concert and reception to raise funds for their 2013 scholarship and bursary awards.

An Afternoon of Musical Delights will feature rising performers in classical music.
Robyn Driedger-Klassen, soprano
Tommy Huang, piano
Lucy Yu, flute

The three talented past scholarship winners will return to share their matured musicality and experience at St. John's Shaughnessy Church. Each performer will present delightful repertoire especially selected for our gala event.

A wine and tapas reception for performers and guests is included in the cost of the ticket and will follow the concert. Tickets also available at our regular VWMS monthly Wednesday concerts held at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, or through the VWMS executive or members-check out our website www.vwms.ca or call Leanne 604-990-8372

Meet our performers

Soprano Robyn Driedger-Klassen is well known on opera, recital and concert stages. Recent operatic appearances include: Sophie in Massenet’s Werther, Naiade in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, Marzelline in Beethoven’s Fidelio, Alexandra in the Canadian premiere of Marc Blitzstein’s Regina, Bubikopf in Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis, the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, the Governess in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, and the Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia. Also in demand for solo work, she is a frequent performer of recitals and specializes in contemporary works. Robyn teaches at the Vancouver Academy of Music and is a founding member and core-faculty of the Vancouver International Song Institute (VISI). Upcoming performances include Kaija Saariaho’s Lonh and Miranda’s Lament for the Modulus Festival and Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire with Music on Main for the 100th anniversary of the premiere of the piece. Robyn juggles her busy performing and teaching schedule with motherly duties to her adorable 1-year-old son.

Tommy Huang holds a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from the University of British Columbia. Tommy’s passion for music began when he was 5 years old through watching and imitating his older brother playing the piano and the violin. Since then, Tommy has won several competitions, among them the 2008 Vancouver Women’s Musical Society Competition and the Johann Strauss Foundation Scholarship Competition. Tommy’s musical career had taken him all over Canada, United States, Austria, and Taiwan. Tommy holds an additional Masters Degree in Business Administration. He currently works at TD Waterhouse as a Financial Planner and is happily married to his College Sweetheart, Cherry Li.

Lucy Yu is a 2009 Bachelor of Music graduate from the UBC School of Music, with a major in flute performance; she also holds a Bachelors of Education degree from UBC. She has performed with the Red Shift Music Society, Kamloops Symphony, and Fraser Valley Wind Ensemble. She has been a faculty member of the Willingdon Church Fine Arts Academy for the past 5 years. Lucy currently teaches elementary music with the Surrey School District. She enjoys working with children, sharing with them the joy of music through movement and singing. Lucy was the recipient of the VWMS scholarship in 2009-2010. This scholarship allowed her to attend summer flute workshops, as well as fund her Orff level course, which was a crucial stepping stone in her teaching career. In the near future, Lucy hopes to continue graduate studies in the field of music pedagogy and performance.